Thompson school board draws contrast with Jeffco action

Despite some similarity, Thompson leaders say they are on different path

By Alex Burness Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
02/10/2014 10:27:37 PM MST

Updated:
02/11/2014 03:02:23 PM MST

Last election day, the school board majorities in both Jefferson County and Thompson school districts transitioned from progressive to conservative, as self-proclaimed "reform" candidates with no previous experience in teaching or school administration assumed the advantage.

Early on, both majorities came under fire for not communicating clearly with the public, particularly as it pertained to the possible hiring of attorney Brad Miller for private board representation, and by early December both parties had drawn up contracts with Miller. Jeffco hired him on Dec. 12, and Thompson followed suit Feb. 7.

Attendance for both boards' weekly meetings now regularly runs in the hundreds, and many constituents await what changes may be next.

The nearly identical timelines are indeed hard to ignore -- the two boards even employed the same moderator for their respective retreats. Yet despite the similarities, Thompson Board of Education President Bob Kerrigan said Monday that Jeffco's latest headline, the Feb.

Kerrigan has said repeatedly in board meetings that there is no plan in place to replace Superintendent Stan Scheer, who joined Thompson in 2012 and is under contract until 2017. And while Stevenson said in her resignation speech that she felt neither "trusted or respected" by the board, Kerrigan reiterated Monday that he doesn't think those issues exist in Thompson.

"I think Stan is doing what's required of him, and I think he's doing a good job," he said. "I think he's doing what's right for the district. I'm happy with him."

Scheer, who called JeffCo's departed superintendent "one of the finest in the country" and criticized JeffCo's board for "classless" treatment of Stevenson, said the communication channels between him and Thompson's board are clear and respectful. On Friday, he met privately with Brad Miller and said Monday the interaction was quite positive.

On the other side of the board, Pam Howard, though a vocal opponent of the board majority, agreed that Scheer's job is safe and said "this community would erupt" if he were to be removed.

Public concern is alive and well -- though you wouldn't necessarily know it from the board's latest meeting, in which board members declined to receive public comment from 70 residents who had requested an audience.

Board minority members Howard, Denise Montagu and Lori Hvizda Ward fought at the study session's onset to allow extended public comment, but the trio was shot down after an hour-long debate on the dais.

The topic of public participation will resurface Wednesday, as the board reviews in another study session its policy around public participation at meetings. Currently, the board may set a time limit on public commentary segments, plus a limit on individual speakers. Board policy also states that members of the public who'd like to speak on a particular agenda item must notify board secretary Shana Garcia prior to the day of the meeting. Even so, many would-be speakers who follow protocol have been declined.

Board member Donna Rice said that may be for the best.

"What we're getting is not necessarily public comment. We're getting a town hall kind of meeting, and it's not helpful to me at all. People are angry and I don't understand why," she said, adding that the "angry and belligerent" crowds at recent meetings have hindered the board's ability to get anything concrete done.

Kerrigan has often echoed that sentiment, and said Monday that those who wish to speak are always welcome to write or call a board member to discuss an issue at greater length. "If people don't want that and they want to come in on a Saturday," he said, "then I'll come in on a Saturday and we'll have eight hours of public comment. But as board president, when I see an agenda with 14 items on it, I have to be very conscious of time."

According to Howard, those long speaker sign-up sheets are inspired by the actions of Kerrigan's majority.

"You have to go back to the beginning," she said. "If we were allowed to do our appropriate work, and there were not these distractions being brought forward, I can guarantee you the number of speakers would go down like it used to when the board worked together, ignored partisan politics and focused on the work of the district. It's ridiculous for Bob to say we can't waste time on public comment, when the reason we have so many people for it is because of what he's bringing before us."